Box folding machine



March 17, 1964 n. B. JAROFF ETAL BOX FOLDING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 28, 1961 FIG. I

INVENTORS BY P056167 pas/-44 March 17, 1964 D. a. JAROFF ETAL 3,125,007

BOX FOLDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 28, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet s FIG. 8

INVENTOR$ 0/? W0 5 Jfl/zaA-p fiafer K7574; BY WW4 ArroeA/EZ FIG. 7

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March 17, 1964 D. B. JAROFF ETAL BOX FOLDING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 28, 1961 FIG.9

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l vzzvek LP wgvsl l I m m E United States Patent 3,125,007 BOX FOLDING MACHINE David B. Jarotf, Yonkers, and Robert Postal, Great Neck, N .Y., assignors to Techmation Corp a corporation of New York Filed Aug. 28, 1961, Ser. No. 134,267 7 Claims. (CI. 93-51) The present invention relates in general to a box making machine and, in particular, to a machine for folding a box blank into a finished box member.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a highly novel and useful apparatus for making boxes from cardboard or paper board blanks.

It is another object of the present invention to provide means for automatically forming cardboard box members or the like on a masss production basis so as to provide high quality boxes at a relatively low cost.

It is a further object of the present invention to pro vide a box folding machine of the described type which is highly efiicient in operation and which will have a relatively long, useful and trouble-free life so as to require a minimum of maintenance and repair.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the following specification taken in connection with the appended drawings of the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view of a box folding apparatus pursuant to the present invention with portions of the apparatus being broken away and other portions being shown in section in order to facilitate the description thereof;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional View on an enlarged scale taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 and illustrates one operating position of the apparatus;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 and illustrates another operating position of the apparatuss;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURES 6, 7 and 8 are fragmentary views similar to FIGURE 5 and illustrates diiferent operating conditions of the apparatus;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary view which illustrates still another operating condition of the apparatus;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIGURE 1 and illustrates the hydraulic mechanism utilized in the box folding apparatus;

FIGURE 11 is a top plan view of a box blank to be operated upon by the apparatus;

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the blank in partially folded condition;

FIGURE 13 is a view similar to FIGURE 12 and illustrates the blank in completely folded condition so as to form a folded box member pursuant to the present invention;

FIGURE 14 is a schematic diagram of the hydraulic system utilized in the present invention; and

FIGURE 15 is a wiring diagram.

Referring now to FIGURES l1, l2 and 13 in detail, there is shown a box blank 10 which is operated upon by the box folding machine 12 of the present invention. The blank 10 may be formed of cardboard, paper board or other suitable material and as here shown, is provided with the laterally spaced longitudinal fold lines 14 and 16 and with the laterally spaced transverse fold lines 18 and 20, which longitudinal and lateral fold lines define the base portion 22 of the box. The longitudinal fold line 14 and the outer adjacent longitudinal marginal edge 24 "ice define a side wall portion 26 and, similarly, the longitudinal fold line 16 and the adjacent outer marginal edge 28 define a side wall portion 30. It will be be noted that the transverse fold lines 18 and 20 extend through the side wall portions 26 and 30 so as to define on each end wall portion a pair of tabs 32 and 34. Outwardly of each of the transverse fold lines 18 and 24) the blank 10 is provided with an integral end wall portion 36 and 33, it being noted that said end wall portions are provided with the transverse intermediate fold lines 40 and 42 respectively. As best shown in FIGURE 11, the inner surfaces of the tabs 32 and 34 and end wall portions 36 and 38 are provided with a suitable adhesive material 44 which forms a coating thereon. Briefly described, the apparatus 12 of the present invention operates to fold the blank 10 first upon each of the transverse fold lines 18 and 20, so that the end wall portions 36 and 38 are disposed normal to the plane of the base 22, the tabs 32 and 34 also being folded upwardly at the same time that the end wall portions are folded upwardly. The blank is then folded along the fold lines 14 and 16 so that the side walls 26 and 30 are normal to the plane of the base 22, said folding of the side wall portions disposing the tabs 32 and 34 inwardly of the upstanding end wall portions 36 and 38 as best shown in FIGURE 12. Thereafter, the end wall portions are folded over the upstanding tabs 32 and 34 along the fold lines 40 and 42 so that the folded over portions of the end wall portions are adhesively secured together with the tabs 32 secured therebetween, as best shown in FIGURE 13, to form the completed box which has the base 22 provided along its opposite longitudinal edges with the upstanding side walls 26 and 30 and with the opposing end walls 46 and 48 formed by the folded over end Wall portions 36 and 38 respectively so as to form a completely folded box member 5t) which can be utilized either as the body or cover member for an assembled two-piece box.

The box forming or folding apparatus 12 as here shown is provided with a supporting frame structure 52 which mounts a pneumatic assembly 54, as best shown in FIG- URE 10, which operates a plate 56 so as to raise and lower the latter as indicated by the arrows 58 and opcrates a yoke 60 to raise and lower the latter as indicated by the arrows 62. The frame also mounts a movable support assembly 63 which includes a plate 64 on which the blank 10 is received at the start of the cycle and which is biased upwardly by springs 66. The pneumatic assembly 54 is mounted by the cross beams 68 and 70. As best shown in FIGURE 10, the pneumatic assembly 54 comprises an upper cylinder 72 provided with a plunger 74 and a lower cylinder 76 provided with a plunger 78. The free end of plunger 74 mounts the previously mentioned yoke 60 which is provided with the depending rods 80 and 82 respectively which mount a plate 84, the purpose of which is hereinafter described in detail. The outer end of plunger 78 mounts the previously mentioned plate 56.

Referring now to FIGURE 14, there is shown a schematic diagram of the pneumatic system in which cylinder 76 is indicated as cylinder A and cylinder 72 is indicated as cylinder B. It will be understood that compressed air from a suitable source is supplied to the pneumatic system 54 by means of the conduit 86. The air is filtered by a conventional filter 88 and regulated by a conventional regulator 90 and a conventional oiler 92 is also provided. Plunger 74 is operated by air supplied to the cylinder 72 under the control of a valve B which is a conventional single solenoid 4-way valve. The air is supplied to valve B from a branch line 94 from the conduit 86, the valve B operating to permit air to flow through the line 98 to the upper end of cylinder 72 when it is desired to move plunger 74 downwardly or in the advance 3 direction indicated by the arrow 100. The valve B operates to permit air to flow through the line 102 into the cylinder 72 when the cylinder 74 is to be returned or raised, the advance and return movements of the cylinder 74 being indicated by the arrows 104 in FIGURE 10. Air is supplied to the cylinder 76 through the valve A which is a double solenoid 4-way valve. Air is supplied to the valve A by the branch line 106 from the air conduit 86. The valve A operates to supply air through the branch line 108 to the upper end of the cylinder 76 when the plunger 78 is to be moved downwardly or advanced as shown by the arrow 110 and air is supplied by the valve A through the branch line 112 to the cylinder 76 when the plunger 78 is to be raised or returned. The pneumatic system also includes a third valve designated as valve C which is a 2-way solenoid valve and is connected to the main air conduit 86 by the branch line 113. The valve C operates to supply air through the branch lines 114 and 116 which constitute a blowofr manifold 118, the function of which is hereinafter described in detail.

The supporting assembly 63 which includes the previously mentioned base plate 64 and the spring members 66 is provided with a supporting plate 120 mounted by the cross member 122 and also includes a laterally extending arm 124 which moves with the base plate 64 in the direction of the arrows 125 against the bias of the springs 66.

The framework 52 also mounts a feed table 126 on which the blanks 10 are moved in the direction of the arrow 128 to be positioned on the base table 64 as best shown in FIGURE 2. As shown in FIGURE 1, the upper surface of the base table 64 is substantially flush with the upper surface of the feed table 126 so that when the blanks 10 are advanced to the supporting table 64 in the direction of the arrow 128, the blank will be properly positioned on the table 64 for the start of an operating cycle, the apparatus 12 as shown in FIGURE 1 being disposed for the start of an operating cycle. Guide members 130 are provided so as to properly guide the advancing blank 10 to properly dispose the latter on the table 64, it being understood that the blank is advanced in its widthwise disposition viewing FIGURE 2. When positioned on the support table 64 at the start of an operating cycle, it will be understood that the transverse fold lines 18 and 20 overlie stationary bending edges 134 and 136 which are closely adjacent to the adjacent end surfaces of the support table 64. Provision is made for a pair of microswitches MS1 and MS2 which are disposed on the framework 52 so that their operating members 138 extend into the path of movement of the blank 10 as the latter is moved from the table 126 onto the support table 64. In addition to said microswitches provision is made for a microswitch MS-3 which is mounted on the transverse frame member 122, a microswitch MS-4 which is mounted at the very top of the framework 52 and a microswitch MS- which is mounted between the transverse frame members 68 and 70. The microswitch MS- 3 is operated by the extending arm 124. The microswitch MS4 is operated by a part 140 provided at the upper end of the piston 74 and the microswitch MS-S is operated by a raised arm 142 provided on plate 84. As best shown in FIGURE 5, the plate 84 is provided also with a pair of folding plates 144 which are pivotally mounted as at 146 and which are biased toward each other by springs 148. The folding plates 146 also pivotally mount a pair of bending fingers 150 which are pivotally mounted as at 152 and which are biased inwardly against the associated folding plates by leaf spring 154.

As previously mentioned, FIGURE 1 illustrates the disposition of the parts at the start of an operating cycle. In order to start the operating cycle of the apparatus 12, a blank is advanced from the feed table 126 in transverse or widthwise disposition onto the table 64 in the direction of the arrow 128 until the advancing edge of the blank strikes the operating elements 138 of the micro switches MS1 and MS-2. As best shown in FIGURE 15, the microswitches MS1 and MS2 are normally open and are connected in series and are also connected to one side of a source of electrical energy 156 by means of a line 158 and through a manually operated switch 160 which is closed when it is desired to operate the box forming or folding apparatus 12. The microswitches are connected also through a line 162 to the upper series contacts of a ratchet relay 164. It will be understood that said upper contacts 166 are normally closed at the start of an operating cycle. The upper series contacts of the ratchet relay are connected through a line 168 to one side of the advance solenoid of the double solenoid valve A. The other side of the advance solenoid is connected through lines 170 and 172 to the other side of the supply source 156. The ratchet relay 164 is provided with a second set of series contacts 174 which are normally open at the start of an operating cycle and with a relay solenoid 176. One side of solenoid 176 is connected to line 170 and the other side thereof is connected by line 178 to the one side of microswitch MS3. The other side of MS-3 is connected by line 180 to line 182 which is connected from line 158 to one side of microswitch MS-4. The other side of microswitch M84 is connected by line 184 to one side of the ratchet relay solenoid 176 and to the previously mentioned line 178. One of the normally open lower contacts 174 is connected to the line 182 and the other of said contacts 174 is connected by line 186 to one side of the solenoid of valve B, the other side of which is connected by line 188 to the previously mentioned line 172. One side of the return solenoid for valve A is connected by line 190 to line 172 and the other side of said solenoid is connected by line 192 to the previously mentioned line 184. Line 172 is connected also by line 194 to one side of the solenoid of valve C and the other side of said solenoid is connected by line 196 to one side of microswitch MS-S, the other side of which is connected by line 198 to line 182.

When it is desired to institute the operation of the apparatus 12, the manual operating switch 160 is closed as previously indicated and a blank is then moved off the feed table 126 onto the operating table 64 to strike the operating elements 138 of microswitches MS1 and MS-2 so as to close the latter. This now serves to energize the advance solenoid of valve A. It will be noted that one side of said solenoid-is connected to one side of the source 156 through lines 170 and 172 and that the other side of said solenoid is connected to the other side of the source through line 168, the normally closed upper relay contacts of ratchet relay 164 and line 162, the closed microswitches MS1 and MS-2 and line 158 to the other side of the supply source. This causes piston 78 in cylinder 76 to advance or move downwardly so as to bring the operating plate 56 into engagement with the underlying blank 10 positioned on the table 64. Since the table 64 is spring loaded, it moves downwardly in the direction of the arrow illustrated in FIGURE 3 so that the blank is moved downwardly relative to the stationary bending surfaces 134 and 136. This results in the upward bending of the end wall portions 36 and 38 along the fold lines 18 and 20 respectively and also the upward bending of the tabs 32 and 34 along the extensions of said fold lines as illustrated in FIGURE 3. In addition to the bendingedges 134 and 136, the apparatus is also provided with bending members 200 and 202 which underlie the longitudinal fold lines 16 and 14 respectively of the blank 10. Consequently, as the piston or plunger 78 continues its downward movement so as to carry the operating plate 56 downwardly and cause the support table 64 to move downwardly on its supporting elements 204 and 206, the blank 10 is brought into engagement with the stationary folding members 200 and 202 which extend transversely of the previously mentioned folding members or edges 134 and 136 so that the blank is now folded upwardly along the fold lines 14 and 16, as best shown in FIGURE 4 and said folding also results in the inward movements of the tabs 32 and 34 to position the latter inwardly of and in abutment with the upstanding end wall portions 36 and 38, as illustrated in FIGURE 4. From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the folding elements 134, 136, 201 and 202 form a die into which the blank is forced so as to be folded as illustrated in FIGURE 12. The upward bending of the side wall portions 26 and 28 results in the disengagement of the blank from the operating element 138 of microswitches MS-l and MS-Z, so that said switches now return to their open or initial position. When the support table 64 has moved to the position thereof illustrated in FIGURE 4, it will be understood that the operating arm 124 which moves with the support table 64 engages the normally open microswitch MS3 to close the latter. The closing of microswitch MS3 results in the pulsing of the ratchet relay 164 to the alternate position thereof in which the contacts 166 are opened and the contacts 174 thereof are closed. In this connection, it will be noted that the relay solenoid 176 is connected at one end thereof to the supply source 156 by means of line 172 and that the closing of microswitch MS-3 connects the other side of the solenoid to the supply source through line 178, closed microswitch MS-3, line 1%, and line 182 so as to pulse the relay. The closing of the normally open contacts 174 of relay 154 also results in the operation of valve B. In this connection, it will be noted that one end of the advance solenoid of valve B is connected by line 188 and 172 to one side of the power source. The other side of the solenoid is connected by line 186 and the closed contacts 174 and line 182 to the other side of the power source. This causes the piston or plunger 74 of cylinder 72 to move downwardly until the cross arm or yoke 60 thereby engages the operating element of microswitch MS4. The downward movement of piston 74 results in the downward movement of the previously mentioned plate 84 to complete the formation of the box member as best illustrated in FIGURES 5 through 8. The downward movement of the plate 84 causes the previously mentioned bending fingers 151) to engage the upwardly standing portions of the end wall portions 36 and 38 above the fold line 40, as best illustrated in FIGURE 5. The bending fingers form an initial bend in said end wall portions about the fold line 40 until the forward ends of the fingers engage the stationary slotted frame portions 210 and 212 respectively which cause the fingers to pivot outwardly and enter the associated slots 214 and 216 as the plate $4 moves downwardly. In this connection, it will be understood that the end wall portions 36 and 38 above the fold lines 40 and 42 respectively are facilitated in their initial folding operation by the fingers 150 due to the fact that the associated tabs 32 and 34 are already inwardly bent and are in adhesive engagement with the confronting surfaces of the end wall portions, as best shown, for example, in FIGURE 12. Continued downward movement of the plate 84 causes the bending fingers 159 to enter the slots 214 and 216 and pivot out of engagement with the end wall portions of the blank 10. However, as the bending fingers are about to be disengaged from the blank, the bent end wall portions of the latter are now engaged by the previously mentioned pivoted folding plates 144. Consequently, as the plate 84 continues to ride down, it will be noted that the underlying portions of the end wall portions of the blank are engaged by the forward angular surfaces 218 of the fingers 144 to continue the bending action initiated by the bending fingers 1511. Continued downward movement of the plate 84 results in the pivotal movement of the folding plates 144 inwardly toward each other as the plate 84 rides down until the surfaces 218 engage abutments 221 provided on the operating plate 56, as best illustrated in FIGURE 7, at which point the end wall portions 36 and 38 have already been folded over the remaining portion of the end wall below the respective fold lines 40 and 42. As the fold plates move between the abutments 221 and the folded over portions of the blank, they complete the overfolds of the end Wall portions and move the confronting surfaces of the latter in engagement to complete the adhesive securement of the end wall portions which are separated by the fold lines 40 and 42 thereof to complete the formation of the box member as illustrated in FIGURE 8 and as shown in FIGURE 13.

When the piston 74 has descended to the point where the plate 84 is in the position thereof illustrated in FIGURE 8, the cross arm 60 carried by piston 74 engages the operating element of microswitch MS-4. This results in the pulsing of the return solenoid of valve A. In this connection, it will be noted that one end of the solenoid is connected to the power source 156 by lines and 172 and the other end of the solenoid is now connected to the other end of the supply source by lines 192, 184, closed microswitch MS4 and line 182. This causes the piston 7 8 to retract or to move upwardly. The closing of microswitch MS-4 also results in the pulsing of the solenoid 176 of the ratchet relay 164, it being noted, as previously indicated, that one end is connected to the one side of the power source through lines 172 and that the other end is now connected to the power source through lines 184, closed switch MS-4 and line 182. The pulsing of the ratchet solenoid restores the ratchet relay to its original condition in which the lower contacts 174 are opened and the upper contacts 166 are closed. The opening of the lower relay contacts 174 de-energizes the solenoid of valve B permitting the valve to return to its initial position and causing the piston or plunger 74 to be returned to its initial starting position in which the plunger is raised upwardly from the position wherein it has moved the plate 84 to the position of the latter shown in FIGURE 8. The formed box is in frictional engagement with the plate 56, as will be noted from FIGURE 8, so that as the plate 56 rises with the retraction of the piston 74, the formed box member is carried upwardly with the plate. However, provision is made for the stripper fingers 220-220 which are pivotally mounted on the framework 52 as best shown in FIGURE 1. The free ends of the fingers extend into the path of upward movement of the completed box member, as best shown in FIGURE 9, so that when they are engaged by the box member as it moves upwardly with the plate 56, the box member is stripped from the plate and falls backwardly down onto the supporting table 64. At this stage during the operating cycle of the apparatus, the arm 142 carried by the upper platform or plate 84 engages the operating element of microswitch MS-S. This completes the energizing circuit of the solenoid for valve C through line 196, closed microswitch MS-S and line 198 to the power source so as to operate valve C. The operation of valve C results in the supply of air to the previously mentioned blowoff manifold and from the latter through the conduits 114 and 116 the free ends of which are disposed, as best illustrated in FIGURE 9, inwardly of the end wall 48 of the completed box member. The resulting pulse of compressed air is effective to move the completed box member in the direction of the arrow 222 off the supporting platform 64. This completes the operating cycle of the apparatus 12 which is now returned to position for start of new cycle.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated and described hereinabove has been selected for the purpose of clearly setting forth the principles involved. It will be apparent, however, that the present invention is susceptible to being modified in respect to details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts which may be resorted to without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

We claim: 1

1. A box folding machine comprising, means defining a die, means for forcing a blank into said die to form a box, and means for folding inwardly the upper edges on opposite sides of the box while in the die, said last mentioned means comprising a member mounted for reciprocation relative to said die, a pair of laterally spaced folding elements carried by said member and a bending finger mounted on each folding element and projecting forwardly therefrom, said bending fingers each being operable in response to the movement of said reciprocable member toward said die to initially bend one of said upper edges into the path of movement of the associated folding element and the latter being operable in response to said movement to complete the inward folding of the associated upper edge.

2. A box folding machine as in claim 1, said folding elements being mounted for pivotal movement on said member and said bending fingers being pivotally mounted on the associated folding elements.

3. A box folding machine as in claim 2, means biasing said folding elements inwardly of said die, and means biasing each bending finger inwardly of said die and against the associated folding element.

4. A box folding machine as in claim 3, each bending.

finger having a cam surface engageable with said die after engagement with the associated upper edge of said box for pivoting the bending finger outwardly of said die and away from the associated folding element.

5. A box folding machine as in claim 4, and means defining slots in said die for receiving the outwardly pivoted bending fingers.

6. A box folding machine as in claim 3, and abutment means provided on said blank forcing means, said abutment means being engageable by said folding elements to pivot the latter outwardly of said die.

7. A box folding machine as in claim 6, said folding elements being provided with cam surfaces which engage .said abutment means to effect said pivotal movement thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 424,953 Brigham Apr. 8, 1890 1,814,043 Joslin July 14, 1931 1,835,401 Joslin Dec. 8, 1931 1,899,612 Stortz Feb. 28, 1933 2,132,859 Mednick et al. Oct. 11, 1938 2,848,926 Gschwind et a1. Aug. 26, 1958 

1. A BOX FOLDING MACHINE COMPRISING, MEANS DEFINING A DIE, MEANS FOR FORCING A BLANK INTO SAID DIE TO FORM A BOX, AND MEANS FOR FOLDING INWARDLY THE UPPER EDGES ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE BOX WHILE IN THE DIE, SAID LAST MENTIONED MEANS COMPRISING A MEMBER MOUNTED FOR RECIPROCATION RELATIVE TO SAID DIE, A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED FOLDING ELEMENTS CARRIED BY SAID MEMBER AND A BENDING FINGER MOUNTED ON EACH FOLDING ELEMENT AND PROJECTING FORWARDLY THEREFROM, SAID BENDING FINGERS EACH BEING OPERABLE IN RESPONSE TO THE MOVEMENT OF SAID RECIPROCABLE MEMBER TOWARD SAID DIE TO INITIALLY BEND ONE OF SAID UPPER EDGES INTO THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF THE ASSOCIATED FOLDING ELEMENT AND THE LATTER BEING OPERABLE IN RESPONSE TO SAID MOVEMENT TO COMPLETE THE INWARD FOLDING OF THE ASSOCIATED UPPER EDGE. 